December 20, 2007
Sharing Some Good Stuff
Good news stories abound this time of year. I’ve scoured local news sources so I could share some of them with you.
The Friends of Waianae Library are helping harried parents keep their keiki occupied during these last days of the countdown to Christmas. What are you going to do, now that the tree is decoreated, the gifts are all bought and wrapped, the menu is planned … and the little ones are restless and getting a little cranky with no school to distract them? If you live in Waianae you’re going to sign them up for the Twelve Days of Christmas at Waianae Library, which runs much like the summer reading programs offered by libraries everywhere. The children commit to read one book a day, and public libraries are also offerring public readings, puppet shows and other programs to keep the little ones occupied and save their parents sanity.
Folks around the island have been supporting various holiday giving programs and now are busy distributing gifts of aloha to families in need. I found a video on KGMB 9 News about Angel Tree gifts bringing the spirit of the season to children and even some seniors for whom Christmas would have been just another day without the generosity of strangers.
University of Hawaii med students have long provided a vital service by visiting homeless shelters and providing basic medical care. This week they’re putting away their stethoscopes and sharing some holiday goodwill. On Saturday the UH med students will host a party for the children at the Next Step transitional shelter in Kaka’ako. They’ll decorate the shelter, have cookie decorating and an ice cream sundae bar - all activites guaranteed to bring smiles to some children who have seen hard times!
One more good-news story: A lot of veterans of World War II still feel the gulf between our contry and Japan, never having gone beyond the animosity that abounded in those dark days. A group of US and Japanese veterans, recognizing that there’s not much time left to heal that breach, got together for a few days of fellowship and a softball game this week and found that new friendships can heal old wounds. Their game was played at Hans L’Orange Park in Waipahu, not too far from where I live. I wish I’d known in time to attend. I’m not much into sports, but I’d love to have cheered these eighty-year old ballplayers who were doing much more than just hitting balls and running bases!
The project that is most dear to my heart this holiday season is the The Slippah Fund, which my readers generously joined me in supporting. I’ll have an update and some first-person reporting for you in a few days. Watch for it!
Have you looked behind the headlines lately to find the good stuff hidden on the back pages? I know there are wonderful things going on in your neck of the woods, too, especially this time of year. Why not share it? Find a local good news story, write a post about it on your blog and send me the link. I’ll be doing a round-up of your Good Stuff late today!
[tags]good news, current events, local stories, meme[/tags]
Posted by skeet @ 11:02 am • current events, Hawaii
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December 20th, 2007 at 6:34 pm, A different kind of good stuff | I know EVERYTHING - just ask my hubby. Says:
[…] My blogging pal Skeet runs a meme every Thursday called Share Some Good Stuff. Now this isn’t any old meme. This meme asks participants to write about some good news in their area. This meme has a great purpose. Bloggers are asked to look past the bad news we see in our day to day lives and find something good. I have a different kind of news I’d like to share this week. Mine is about my older son, who is twelve. Each week this month he has been “caught” by teachers performing random acts of kindness, and that makes me so proud. To him the acts witnessed by the teachers are little things that are no big deal, things he feels everyone should do and yet doesn’t. He is friendly with a boy in a wheelchair and helps him, when some other children keep their distance. This is natural for my son. We have taught our son to treat others as he wants to be treated, and to not judge by appearance. He opened a door for someone. He helped a teacher take out trash after dissecting in science. He can be such a good boy. He helps his Grandma, my Mom, do things she has a hard time with on a regular basis if my Dad is working or traveling. He takes out her garbage, helps carry her groceries and gets her mail. Last, but certainly not least, after I had major surgery this summer he helped care for me voluntarily, for several weeks while my husband was at work. My son may have his less than perfect moments, but I am glad he has heard some of the things we have tried to teach him about life and the treatment of others. I love you son! Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. […]
December 20th, 2007 at 6:35 pm, valmg Says:
I hope I’m not too late. I’m sorry, I’m running behind on everything today.
December 20th, 2007 at 6:59 pm, skeet’s stuff » Share Some Good Stuff Says:
[…] because I found so many wonderful stories! The holidays bring out the best in people, and I shared several stories about good people doing good things. Ah, lucky we live […]
December 20th, 2007 at 7:02 pm, skeet Says:
You were just in time, Val! I was working on my post when I got a rather long an dinvolved phone call. I had just gone back to writing when your post appeared. It’s magic, I tell ya - magic!